Rectifying column



y 1,640, Aug.- 23, 1927. J' F. CYPHERS 069 RECTIFYING COLUMN Filed Oct. 6 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Aug. 23, 1927.

J. F. CYPHERS RECTIFYING COLUMN Filed Oct. 6, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f W W INVENTOR.

ZW n M ATTORNEY.

Patented ug. 23, 1927.

UNITED STATES JAMES` F. CYPHERS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

RECTIFYING COLUMN.

Appucation mea october s, 1923. serial No. 667,040'.

'This invention relates to the structure of a self-cleaning rectifying column. In the ordinary column the plates frequently become uneven or sagged in ysome part, thereby increasing the depth of liquid over the orifices in that part, leaving the vapors -to go through the parts where less liquidis. The very least unevenness will mean an 1rregular exhausting of the vapors from the descending liquid because the vapors will always go through the orifices where the least liquid is located. I'Vhen the vapors begin to concentrate in going through a few openings only, eddy currents occur and ma- 5 terial deposits from the liquid andthe apparatus may be clogged up. This same operation is seen inthe action of -a whirl-pool in the water as it deposits material around itself.

One object of my invention is to providev a rigidlyl constructed column in which all the parts are firmly held,.and they are held from the vibration whichtakes place when the boiling on the plates is violent, as well as being held level. The vibrations often fatigue the plates until they break, and I propose to do away with this objection by properly supporting the plates, which prevents the vibration.

Another object of my invention is to provide a self-cleaning beer plate. The orifices in the ordinary beer plate are made by striking upv tongue-shaped projections at an angle of Labout degrees. Beginning at the points where the tongue joins the plate, material begins to collect on each side, between the tongue and the plate, and in time so much material is'built up that the orifices are clogged and -the plate loses its effectivenes. simply small holes. These' holes have to be small to keep' the liquid from flowing through, and since they are small, they often clog up. In'my plate the members are struck up as semi-cylindrical parts, consequently the angle where they join the plate is a right angle, and a right angle connection causes the least deposit. Also, vapors continually blow through the entire opening nearly parallel to the plate and thus set up a scouring action and the holes, and the rest of the plate around the holes, are therefore kept practically clean. From the point .of view o the .liquid on the plate, this 55 scouring action of the vapors acts as an agitator for the liquid.' This agitation pre- Or the orifices are sometimesv agitate the liquid on the plate,

Still'another object of my invention is to provide a long straight weir projecting down adjacent to the next lower plate, thus making a long overflow surface and also dispensing with the usual down pipes which also often become clogged. The lower end of the weir projects into the liquid on the lower plate and thereby forms a liquid seal, preventing vapors from coming up where the liquidhas run dow-n. The material falls from -the weir in a thin sheet, or'layer. There is so much material held .in suspension in the initial purifying stages of beer, and similarly purified liquids that it is very desirable to make the parts so that there is little tendency for sediment to collect or fall out of suspension.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

While my invention may be carried out in many 'different Ways, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown only one form of apparatus in the accompanying drawings, in which :v

- Figure 1 is a plan viewof a rectifying column section, Figure 2 is` a partial vertical view, with part of the casing of the front part of the column removed, and with cert-ain other parts shown in section. Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the self-cleaning plate.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The column section l has flanges 1l by which the several sections are riveted or bolted together. In the column and fastened-to its sides are beer plates 2. These plates have struck-up semi-cylindrical members, the tends of which are open, forming va or orifices. The vapors coming from the orifices cause the material on the plate to wash back and forth on the plate, and scour or loosen material which may have fallen out of suspension. Also, the moving vapors to keep the solids in suspension in it. At the edge of each plate is a straight Weir 3 over which the material flows to the` plate below. This weir, being straight, does not clog as the usual pipes do. The weir ea thus tendingtends to the column sides anddown adjacent to thenext lower plate, and there it acts as a distributor to spread the material over that plate and it also forms al liquid 'seal to prevent vapors from coming up.

The portion of the plate directly beneath the weir and onto which the material flows, has no orifices, as shown in Fig. l. The material coming down in'a sheet tends to washout any sediment which collects at this point.

The plates are rigidly supported on beams 4 and 5, which beams are attached to wings on the upper part of post sections 6. 7 and 8. The post structure herein is 'similar to that shown in my copending application for a patent for improvements in rectifying columns, Serial No. 666,211, filed October 2, 1923; r i f The posts are made up 1n sections with internal and external screws at their vrespecti've ends. Short nuts 9 are placed over the external screws before the next post section is screwed on. The upper sections, 8, have tapering nuts 10, over which the sockets in the lower posts of the next column section-fit.

These columns are self-cleaning, and yet, should eXtra cleaning or re airs be necessary, manholes 12 are provided in the casing above each plate for that purpose. These manholes are kept closed when the column is in use. l

Figure?, shows practically a full sized View of a portion of the plate and its oriices. The members are struck up in staggered rows, so thatthe vapors from one row have a greater surface over whlch to agitate the material on the late with a minimum of interference from t e vapors coming from the opposite row Iof members.. By meansI of this staggered row arrangement, the material is kept in motion over the whole plate area, and it is positively agitated around the orifice outlets.l

Since the plates are self-cleaning and the down-pipes are eliminated and their place taken by long straight weirs which do not cause deposits from the material, and since the plates are kept, level by the supports, thus causing even vapor action over the entire plate, it isy apparent that the column can be practically continuous in its operation, and will but rarely need 'to be stopped for cleaning.

The operation of my` invention will be apparentfrom the foregoing description.

Although I have described my invention as a'rectifying column for alcohol purification, it may be used to separate any two li uids where one is more volatile than the other and where the liquids contain material held in suspension, or other thick substances which would clo a tube and bonnet rectifying column. en ll have used being adapted 'to cause the vapors coming beer plate I meana plate which is used` as a beer plate, but I do not intend, especially in the following claims, to limit the plate to that use.

The semi-cylindrical form of the struckup parts is used for illustration only, for any several faced prismatic form for the struck-up parts would produce approximately the same results. I, therefore, consider my invention to include all equivalents within the scope of the following claims.

Many changes in the apparatus may be made without `departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. In a rectifying column, substantially horizontal. superposed plates to hold material to be rectied, means on said plates to admit and cause the incoming vapors to constantly agitate the materials on said plates, sectional posts supporting said'plates, plate-supporting beams between and attached to saidposts, the sections of said posts being rigidly connectable with each other.

2. A self-cleaning beer plate comprising a plate havinga plurality of hollow projectmg senn-cyhndrical members, a straight line in the curved surface and passing from end to end ofeach of saidl members being substantially parallel to said plate, and open ends in said members torform vapor orifices.

3. A. self-cleaning beer plate having an elongated opening therein, a hollow orifice member having sides project-ing upwardly from said plate substantially at right angles and on opposite sides o f said opening, said orifice member being open at one end substantially the width of said member between said sides, a cover over the opening in said plate between and joining said sides and removed from said plate, said cover being substantially parallel to said plate adjacent the o en end of said orifice member.

4. X self-cleaning .been` plate having an elongated opening therein, a hollow orice member having sides projecting upwardly from said plate substantially at rightangles and on opposite 'sides of said opening` said orifice member being open at each endsubstantially the width, of said member between 4said sides, a cover over said kfirst named opening between and joining said sides and removed from said plate, said cover being substantially parallel to said plate adjacent the open ends of said orifice member. l

5. In self-cleanin beer plate adapted to hold material to be rectltied, projecting covered members in said plate having two vapor outlet orifices -between and adjoining said plate and the walls and tops of each o said members, said projecting members through said orifices to agitate the material 7. A self-cleaning beer plate comprising on said plate. Y a plate having a plurality of hollow project- 6. A self-cleaning beer plate comprising ing prismatic members longitudinally sub- 10 a plate having a plurality of hollow projeotstantially parallel to said plate, arranged in 5 ing prismatic members vlongitudinally substaggered relation to each other, and open stantially parallel to said plate, and open ends in'said members to form vapor orifices. ends in said members to form vapor orifices. JAMES F. CYPHERS. 

